Post2015: Can there be enough water, energy, food for all?

Mon, 11 Mar 2013

This week, IUCN and the International Water Association (IWA) host an online consultation session on Infrastructure Solutions for the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus. As part of the UN's 'The World We Want' initiative, the consultation platform allows everyone to have their say on development issues post 2015, from 11-17 March with a particular focus on water, energy and food.

Photo: UN Water

"The Post2015 Consultation platform allows us to share ideas around the future of infrastructure in water-energy-food provision. These are important questions that the 'The World We Want' consultations allow to be raised. Solutions exist, for sure, but they are often spread across sectors. Now is the time to rely on inter-sectoral collaboration and sharing of ideas to help collect sustainable solutions for the future of water, energy, and food security", said James Dalton, Coordinator, Global Initiatives, IUCN Water Programme.

The post 2015 water consultation has so far highlighted the need for development goals centred around water. The close interaction between water, energy and food - the nexus – is certainly part of that thinking. For example, increasing irrigation for food production, reduces the water flow left for energy generation (hydropower) and natural ecosystems and the services they provide downstream (biodiversity). The three elements; water, energy and food, are all inextricably linked, and so is their security.

By 2050, to feed a global population of 9 billion people we will need 70% more food. To ensure needs are met, engineered infrastructure, including dams, embankments, and wastewater systems are needed, but also well functioning natural infrastructure, such as healthy rivers, wetlands and forested hill slopes.

Addressing the competing needs for the water, energy and food nexus means exploring opportunities to optimize water infrastructure and technology to help shape and achieve the Post 2015 Development agenda.

You can join the discussion by visiting the website www.worldwewant2015.org/water, you can also tweet ideas or solutions (#waterpost2015) and/or follow and post on Facebook (WaterPost2015)